Several industry groups and standards bodies are using, or actively considering using, PAM-4 technology to jump to the next-generation speed class and enable higher data rates for a given channel bandwidth compared to traditional non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signaling. While PAM-4 technology adapts some traditional NRZ measurement algorithms for PAM-4 signals, to fully analyze system performance, unique PAM-4 measurements and parameters are also required.

"The switch from NRZ to PAM-4 signaling presents many new design and measurement challenges for our customers," said Dave Cipriani, vice president and general manager of Keysight's Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. "Keysight's analysis software helps engineers address these challenges and quickly get their designs to market."

86100D-9FP PAM-N analysis software offers measurements such as:

Eye width, eye height and eye skew

Level amplitude, level noise and level skew

Amplitude level linearity

The PAM-4 option may also be combined with existing DCA-X software options to provide even more powerful analysis capability: